Hey, how much do you make?
Recently while talking to a reporter I was asked if I had done any research on drivers’ salaries. My response was candid — no, most drivers’ salaries are not made public.
Then, after talking with my colleague, Mike, we started researching this issue. Mike found a couple of contracts for Kasey Kahne that were entered into court records several years ago. I followed up by contacting Dustin Long, a reporter for several newspapers. He confirmed that Kasey’s contract was reflective of the norm.
But I still wondered why the drivers’ contracts were so “hush-hush‿ — especially given how open the media is with contracts for players in the NFL, NBA, etc. So a little more research showed that in 2005 Jeff Gordon’s salary, winnings, and endorsements placed him 19th on Sports Illustrated’s list of the top 50 paid athletes, while Tony Stewart ranked 34th.
Darrell Waltrip has written that when owners are discussing deals with sponsors, the drivers might not even be discussed before the deal is sealed. Given how often we learn of salaries of professional athletes, CEOs, and even college professors (I’m at a state institution where my salary figure is readily available if anyone cares), why aren’t drivers’ salaries disclosed? Should they be? Do sponsors eventually know? Do we even care? Just a thought.
On another note, in case you missed it, Washington state House Representative Larry Seaquist made it clear he does not want NASCAR and its fans in his beloved home state:
“These people are not the kind of people you want living next to you,‿ he told a Fox television news station. “They’d be the ones with junky cars in their front yards and would try to slip around the law.‿
Guess he hasn’t seen the motor homes of fans at the race tracks!
-- Jon
(More on the Washington racetrack debate: (1) http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/03/05/gbiffle.washington.track.support/; (2) http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/opinion/03/06/jmenzer.washington.track/)
Comments
I don't know if I'd agree with the congressman's generalization, but there are several problems with the "sport" of NASCAR that will affect us all in the near future.
Posted by: Ben | March 17, 2007 7:39 PM
nascar is big business for sure!
Posted by: nascar | March 20, 2007 12:53 PM
We just brought this same topic up on a radio show that I contribute on Friday May 11.
I have also spent time reseaching on the net for information and have had a hard time finding anything.
My question to you would be: Knowing that we do not know all that a driver makes what comparison would you say is driver income from their racing contract only to their income from endorsements?
With Dale Jr leaving DEI, our radio show got into the topic of just how much money DEI will lose since they are losing the most high profile name in NASCAR.
http://www.thatsracin.com/
has a list out, http://www.charlotte.com/417/story/117529.html , putting Dale Jr at 9th of the Sports' Highest-Paid Athletes list.
It appears from that list that it is a 4 to 1 ratio of endorsements to salary.
Any thoughts?
Posted by: Kenneth | May 11, 2007 12:47 PM
Perhaps their an elite bunch!!!
Posted by: eastleigh | February 4, 2008 3:54 AM
Thanks for posting up this article .I found it by random but it is interesting. Ive always wondered about those race winnings posted on nascar's own site. Always see the odd driver who ranks low in points but has one heck of a lot of money compared to the rest in that area for points. Again thanks for some of the links posted here, may try writing an article for Motorsports Web Talk on this
Posted by: Anthony | April 10, 2008 2:56 AM